Coup leader summons Thai politicians

Yingluck meets military leaders

BBC Online

Thai soldiers patrol on a road near an army club during a military coup in Bangkok on Friday. Thai army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha summoned ousted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to a meeting a day after he seized power in the bloodless coup and said he wanted to restore order following months of turmoil. Photo: Reuters

Ousted Thai leader Yingluck Shinawatra has arrived for talks with the military in Bangkok, a day after the army took power in a coup. Yingluck is one of more than 100 political figures summoned by the army. The army has banned 155 people, including some politicians, from leaving the country.

On Thursday, the military suspended the constitution, banned gatherings and detained politicians, saying order was needed after months of turmoil. The coup, which followed months of anti-government protests, has drawn widespread international criticism.

The UN expressed serious concern. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged a "prompt return to constitutional, civilian, democratic rule". Thais, meanwhile, spent the night under a curfew which ran from 22:00 to 05:00. Bangkok was reported to be largely peaceful. Protesters packed up and left the pro-government "red shirt" camp on Bangkok's western outskirts without violence.

Television has been restricted to broadcasts by the military. The BBC, CNN and other channels are off air. 'WORK AS NORMAL' Military leader General Prayuth Chan-Ocha - who has appointed himself the new prime minister - said troops were taking power "in order for the country to return to normal quickly". "All Thais must remain calm and government officials must work as normal," he said in a televised address. Political factions had been holding talks for two days. Several key figures, including opposition protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban and pro-government protest leader Jatuporn Prompan, were immediately detained.